We surveyed thousands of people to learn what secrets they commonly keep.

See how your secrets compare to people of your age and gender, and explore secrets commonly kept by other people.

For more information about the science of secrecy and the source of this data, visit Columbia University Professor Michael Slepian's website.

To see a description of the secrets, see the bottom of the page. Use the blue menus above to explore different combinations of gender and age.

How to read this graph:

Percent of people with the secret

% who do not tell anyone

% who tell at least one person

Notice how much of the bar is taken up by the dark blue. Many people secretly told a lie in the past, but that experience is not so secret (more than half the time, people tell someone else about this secret). The secret we keep most to ourself (where the largest amount of the bar is in dark blue) is "extra-relational thoughts" - having a thought about having relations with another person (while already in a relationship). Compare that to "drug use," a secret that when people have they often tell other people (most of the bar is light blue).

Committed *emotional* infidelity (NOT involving actual sexual infidelity), for example, having an inappropriate emotional connection with someone, or engaging in something other than sex, such as flirting, kissing, etc.

employment

Kept secret a job or employment that you have (or school activity).

extra-relational thoughts

Thought about having relations with another person (while already in a relationship).

family detail

Have you ever kept a detail about your family secret.

finances

Keep secret details about finances (or amount of money you have).

habit/addiction

Had a habit or addiction (but NOT involving drugs).

hidden relationship

Have you ever hid a current relationship, or keep a past relationship secret.

hobby

Have you ever hid a hobby or possession.

illegal

Engaged in something illegal (other than drugs or stealing).

lack sex

Kept secret a lack of having sex (i.e., that you are not, or were not, having sex at some point).